Henry had declared war on Spain in 1595[3] and after victory at the Siege of Amiens in 1597,[4] and the recently promulgated the Edict of Nantes, on 13 April the following year. The Edict and this treaty brought to an effective end the Wars of Religion in France, which had spread to a conflict European-wide.[5] By its terms, Philip recognized the formerly Protestant Henry as King of France and withdrew his forces from French territory, depriving the remnants of the faltering Catholic League of their support.[1]

The parties to the treaty were hosted by Guillemette de Coucy, co-seigneur of Vervins, in her Châteauneuf de Vervins.[b] Close to the Spanish Netherlands, the Thiérache region [c] had suffered much damage in the recent fighting. Its numerous 16th-century fortified churches still bear witness today.

Some historians have seen this as the final defeat of Philip II, who had furthered dynastic causes through championing ultra-Catholic principles, and a sign of the long downfall of Habsburg Spain and the gradual rise in European hegemony of France during the ensuing Grand Siècle.[2]